Suitcase



Oct. 30, 1934. G. H. WHEARY 1,978,873

SUITCASE Filed Oct. 28. 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

BY I

- A ORNEY.

Oct. 30, 1934. H, WHEARY 1,978,873

SUITCASE Filed Oct. 28, 1931 S Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIIYIIIIIJIIIIIIIIA INVENTOR.

A RNEY.

Oct. 30, 1934. WHEARY 1,978,873

SUITCASE Filed Oct. 28, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 j 1/0 v I f/@217? A TTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 30, 1934 PATENT OFFICE SUITCASE George Henry Wheary, Racine, Wis., assignor to Wheary Trunk Company, Racine, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application October 28, 1931, Serial No. 571,497

- 12 Claims (01. 190-41) This invention relates to suit cases and more particularly to a suit case adapted to carry a number of suits without wrinkling.

It is a particular object of the present invention to provide a'suit case adapted to carry suits out of contact with each other, whereby the suits do not wrinkle, or crush as is the case with ordinary suit cases. v i

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel garment carrying frame, in which the clothes hanger is carried by the frame, and in which the entire garment carrying frame, including the clothes hanger can be removed from the suit case, with the suit in place on the frame.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel support for the garment carrying frames in the suit case which permits both pivotal and sliding movement of the frames and which provides means to retain the frames near one end of the support in fixed position.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, :the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the'precise, embodiment of the herein-disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims, In the accompanying drawings, one complete example of the physical embodiment of this invention is illustrated constructed according to the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which: Figure l-is a perspective view of the suit case in open position, parts being broken away to more clearly illustrate structural details;

Figure ,2 is a cross section across the center of a suitcase adapted to carry three suits and showing the relative positions which the suits occupy in the case;

Figure 3-is a view taken on the same plane as Fig. 2, showing the mountingmeans for the garment carrying frames with the frames removed;

Figure 4 is a view looking into the top of the "suit case, showing a garment carrying frame about to be inserted into the supports;

, Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the garment carrying frame together with the clothes hanger;

Figure 6 is a detail showing the construction of a portion of the garment carrying frame and its connection with the clothes hanger;

Figure '7 is a detail showing how the mounting buttons fit in the channel guideways; and- Figure 8 is a perspective view of the channel guideways showing the retaining feature for the buttons.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, the suit case comprises a main compartment, generally designated 10, having side walls 11 and 12, end walls 13 and 14, a bottom and a cover 17, provided with depending side walls 11' and 12', depending end walls 13 and 14' and a top 18.

The junction between the bottom 15 and the top 17 with the sides 11 and 12 may be made rounded as clearly shown in the drawings to add to the appearance of the case and to facilitate the manufacture. The sides and ends 11, 12, 13 and l i are provided with peripheral incut shoulders 20, while the depending edges 11, 12, 13 and 14' have corresponding bevelled portions 22 which fit down on the shoulders to form a practically moisture proof joint.

The corresponding sides 11 and 11' are provided with a plurality of hinges 25 which preferably have means thereon to prevent the movement of the cover 1'7 past a position at right angles to the main compartment 10. The side 12 opposite the hinges 25 is provided with a plurality of locks 27 which have corresponding locking members 28 on the side 12' adjacent the side 12. A handle 30 is mounted centrally on the side 12' opposite the hinges 25 and provides means for readily transporting the case.

The suits to be transported are carried on frames 32 shown most clearly in Figures 5, 6 and '7. The frames comprise a pair of parallel arms 33, 34, each arm being medially offset, as at 38, to divide thesame into a pair of end sections 36 and 3'7. A pair of buttons, generally designated 40 and 40' are mounted on the end sections 36. These buttons have reduced neck portions 41 for inter-engagement with the supporting channels or guide tracks '70 fixed to the side walls of the hinged sections to mount frames 32 therein.

The outer ends of the arm sections 37 are provided with enlarged discs 43 which mount a rod 45 between the two parallel sections 37. The outer ends of the sections 36 are joined by a metal strip 46 which mounts a clothes hanger 48.

The hanger 48 is of the usual design and has an attaching strip 50 provided with an arcuate end 51 fitting in an aperture 52 in the strip 46 and retained therein by a leaf spring 54, riveted or otherwise suitably fastened tothe strip 16.

A retaining board 56 fits between the side arms of each carrier frame and is provided with a reinforcing member 58 at each end. The reinforcing members have legs 59 parallel to the ends of the board and spaced therefrom to accommodate the side arms. The legs 59 are cut away as shown at 60 to accommodate the buttons 40' and permit the board to extend therearound.

A keeper 62 formed on each side arm passes through a slot (not shown) in the adjacent member 58 and cooperates with a hook. member 64 and a lock 65, the latter being shown in Figur 1, to lock the board into the side arms.

The mounting channels which support the garment carrying frames 32 within the suit case are best shown in Figures 3, l, 7 and 8, and each comprises a bottom 72 with outstanding'flanges 73 and 74 having inturned edge portions 75 and '76, respectively.

The flanges 73 are cut away at two points as shown at 78 and 78, the distance between the two openings thus formed being equal to the distance between the buttons 40 and 40 and the inturned edge portions 75 are spaced apart to form a track or guideway 80, the width of which is slightly greater than the diameter of the reduced neck 41 of the buttons 40 and 40 so that the buttons may have a free sliding engagement therein.

The bottoms 72 of the channel members are extended'jpast the ends of their flanges 73 and i l and are riveted or otherwise suitably fastened to the sides of the case as best shown in Figure 7. Certain of the fasteners or rivets 81., which secure the channel membersto the side walls may be 7 provided with mushroom heads to afi'ord stops for a purpose to be later described, and intermediate rivets between' the openings "18 and the rivets 81 have flat heads 82 as shown in'Figure '7, to permit the buttons to slide therepast.

The lower buttons 40 at'the inner ends of the garment carrying frames 32 may be slid outwardly intheir channels to be stopped by the mushroom heads 81 so that the frames can readily 0ocupy a substantially vertical position and lean against the next adjacent frame similarly raised.

' It will be noted that the rivet head stops 81 for the middle frames are located closer to the wall 11 of the suit case than the heads 81 for the lower frame, which permits the lower frame to be slid out further into the center of the case. By having these heads so located, the lower frame is permitted to lean back against the middleframe while the middle frame is permitted to lean against the cover carried frame so that all three frames may occupy a practically vertical position simultaneously, which adds to the convenience of the case.

A leaf spring 84 is struck inwardly from the bot tom of each channel between the holes 78 and '78. to form a retaining member, restraining axial movement of the buttons 40, once they have passed beyond the spring 84 and requiring positive pressure to withdraw the same over the spring 84 in removing the frame from the suit case.

It Will benoted that the channels are provided with two ports '78 and '28 so as to accommodate thetwo buttons l0 and 4.0 respectively, of the garment carrying frame and that the length of the mounting member '70 is made such, in relation to theposition of the buttons on the arms 33, that the bottom hanger will slip in place readily around the end of the'middle channel.

It is desirable from a point of strength to extend the wall 11 around the edge of the wall 13 and onto the wall 11 so as to form reinforcing members between the walls 11 and 13.

3i garment carrying frame is then ready for insertion into the suit case and may be placed in any position desired in an obvious manner.

The provision of the channel supporting mem- 'ber provides means whereby the entire garment carrying frame including the clothes hanger may be moved laterally within the case to facilitate packing and to permit the frame with the hanger to occupy-aposition perpendicular to the garment compartment so as to give ready access to any of the suits packed in the case and to facilitate the packing. r

The practicability of having the garment carrying frames slidably mounted as well as pivotally-mounted within the frames is obtained by the provision of the unitary garment carrying frame and clothes hanger structure. The provision of the clothes hanger on a portion of the garment carrying frame rather than have it supported from a portion of the suit case enables the user to move the entire frame with the suit in place without disturbing the relative position of the suit with respect to the hanger, and precludes relative movement between the suit and the clothes hanger during closing of the case.

'Having thus described the invention, it will be apparent that applicant has provided a suit case in which a plurality of suits may be carried and maintainedentirely out of engagement with each other or the sides of the case, so that the suits may be transported to their destination entirely free of wrinkles. 3 I i What is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is: Y

1. A garment carrying frame for-wardrobe suit cases including a clothes hanger, comprising a pair of substantially parallel arms, a rod joining said parallel arms at one end thereof and'maintaining said end of the arms spaced apart, a strip joining the other end of said arms, means to retain the clothes hanger on the strip, and a retaining board releasably mounted between said arms. 2. A garment carrying frame for wardrobe suit cases including a clothes hanger, comprising a pair of substantially parallel arms, a rod joining said parallel'arms at one end thereof and maintaining said end of the rods spaced apart, a strip joining the other end of said arms, said strip having an aperture therein to receive an extension from said clothes hanger, and a spring member mounted on said strip adapted to retain said clothes hanger assembled with said strip.

3. A garment carrying frame for wardrobe suit cases including a clothes hanger, comprising a pair of substantially parallel arms, a rod joining said parallel arms atone end thereof and maintaining said end of the rods spaced apart, a strip joining the other end of said arms, said strip having an aperture therein to receive an extension from said clothes hanger, a spring member mounted on said strip adapted to retain said clothes hanger assembled with said strip, and a retaining board removably mounted between said arms'fo'rthe purpose set forth.

4. In a wardrobe suit case of the character described, a garment carrying frame, a plurality of mounting buttons on said frame, said mounting buttons each having a reduced neck portion and an outer head portion, a mounting member for mounting said frame within said suit case comprising, a channel member having inturned flanges adapted to receive said buttons through a plurality of ports in one of said flanges, said inturned flanges serving to retain the head within the channel and means in said channel to normally prevent sliding movement of the frame therein.

5. In a wardrobe suit case including hingedly connected sections, a garment carrying unit including a frame having spaced side arms connected by a transverse garment supporting memher and a garment hanger, means to readily detachably mount the unit in one section of the case for bodily sliding movement and for swingirig movement into and out of alignment with either section when the case is open comprising, a sliding pivotal connection between the inner end portions of the side arms and the adjacent walls of the section, said connection being disengageable upon sliding of the unit to a predetermined position in the section, and a second connection between the side arms and the adjacent section walls, said second connection, when engaged, holding the unit against swinging movement and being disengageable to enable such swinging movement of the unit upon sliding of the unit to a second predetermined position, whereby removal of the unit from the section may be effected by disengaging said second connection and shifting the unit to its first predetermined posi tion at which the first connection is disengage able.

6. In a wardrobe suit case including hingedly connected sections, a garment carrying unit including a frame having side arms connected by a transverse garment supporting rod, and a garment hanger, means to mount the unit in one section of the case comprising, channel guide tracks fixed to opposite walls of the section, said channel guide tracks having spaced pairs of opposed entrance openings leading thereto, a first set of connecting buttons on the inner end portions of the side arms engageable in the channel guide tracks through one pair of said entrance openings, and a second set of connecting buttons carried by the side arms and engageable in the guide tracks through the other pair of entrance openings. the distance between the connecting buttons of each side arm being different than that between the entrance openings whereby engagement and detachment of the supporting unit with the guide tracks requires bodily sliding of the undit to two predetermined positions.

'7. Hand luggage of the character described,

comprising hingedly connected sections, a garment supporting frame including spaced side arms, a hanger, and a garment supporting memher over which garments received on the hanger may be draped, guide tracks mounted on opposite walls of one of the sections, a set of connecting buttons on the inner end portions of the side arms slidably engaged in the guide tracks to provide a hinged mounting for the frame accommodating swinging of the frame about an axis adjacent the hinged connection of the secagainst such swinging movement and requiring sliding movement of the frame to a predetermined position at which said second set of buttons is detachable from the guide tracks to release the frame for swinging movement.

8.1-Iand luggage of the character described, comprising hingedly connected sections, a garment supporting frame including spaced side arms, a hanger, and a garment supporting member over which garments received on the hanger may be draped, cooperating means carried by the side arms and the adjacent walls of one of the sections providing a sliding pivotal connection between the garment supporting frame and said section, a second sliding connection between the side arms and said walls of said section to cooperate with the first mentioned connection to normally hold the garment supporting frame against pivotal movement in the section, while enabling bodily sliding of the frame in said sec tion, and said second connection being detachable when the frame is slid to a predetermined position to enable swinging movement of the frame about the first mentioned pivotal connection.

9. Hand luggage of the character described comprising, a main section and a cover section hingedly connected thereto, the cover section being adapted to assume a raised open position, a garment supporting frame normally within the main section and including spaced side arms connected. by a garment supporting bar, the side arms being of a length substantially equal to that of the walls of the main section to which they are adjacent in the normal position of the garment supporting frame, guide tracks carried by said walls of said main section with one end near the hingedly connected walls of the sections, and means carried by the frame side arms adjacent their ends nearest the hinged connection of the sections having a pivotal sliding connection with said guide tracks enabling the frame to be swung about an axis adjacent the hinged connection of the sections into and out of alignment with either section when the cover section is in raised open position and enabling the frame to be moved to a position inclined toward and with its free end resting against the raised cover section.

10. Hand luggage of the character described comprising, hingedly connected sections, garment supporting means within one section comprising, a frame including side arms, a hanger and a garment support over which garments received on the hanger may be draped, and a sliding hinged connection between the side arms of the frame and the adjacent walls of one of the sections, said connection being so disposed as to enable sliding movement of the frame toward and away from the hinged connection of the sections and swinging movement of the frame to an upright position with its free end resting against the raised section when the case is open.

11. Hand luggage of the character described comprising, a main section and a cover hinged thereto and adapted to be moved to an upright open position, a plurality of garment supporting frames each including side arms, a hanger and a garment support over which garments received on the hanger may be draped, sliding hinged connections between the side arms of the frames and the side walls of the main section to mount the frames in superimposed relation, said connections being so disposed as to enable sliding movement of the frames toward and away from the hinged connection of the sections and swinging movement upper frame so that the lower frame stands at a greater angle when both of the frames are raised and rested against the cover.

12. Hand luggage of the character described, comprising hingedly connected sections, a garment supporting frame including spaced side arms, a hanger and a garment supporting member over which garments received on the hanger may be draped, opposite guide tracks carried by opposite walls of one of the sections, connecting members carried by the side arms slidably engaged with the guide-tracks to provide sliding hinged connections between the frame andsaid guide tracks, other connecting members carried by the side arms slidably and detachably engaged with the guide tracks to cooperate with said sliding hinged connections to normally hold the frame against swinging movement, the second mentioned connecting members being detachable from the guide tracks to enable swinging movement of the frame about the engagement of the first designated connecting members with the guide tracks upon sliding of the frame to a predetermined position at which second mentioned connecting members align with outlet passages in the guide tracks, and said first mentioned connecting members being disengageable from the guide tracks to permit removal of the frame from said section upon sliding movement of the frame to a second predetermined position, at which the first mentioned connecting members align with outlet passages in the guide tracks GEORGE HENRY WHEARY. 

